SSC Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri has been on the defensive lately regarding the team's star forward Gonzalo Higuaín. To dispel fervent transfer rumors linking the Argentinian international to Bayern Munich, Sarri has told soccer reporters that Higuaín is the best striker in the world.

The 57-year old Italian went as far as to say he won't trade Higuaín for Der FCB goal scoring wizard and Polish team captain Robert Lewandowski, Football Italia reported.

"Higuain is becoming what I always thought he should be, in other words the best striker in Europe and perhaps the world," Sarri convincingly declared. "I wouldn't even exchange him with Robert Lewandowski."

Sarri stressed that the Stadio San Paolo squad is currently not interested in dipping its toes in the transfer market. The rumor seems to be the least of Sarri's worries, as the manager was recently slapped with a two-game suspension following an on-field altercation with Internazionale manager Roberto Mancini, as per The Guardian.

"There's no point looking at the table now, as there's a long way to go. We are happy with what we are doing. Of course, this week remains bitter because of the error I made in the Coppa Italia," Sarri admitted over the weekend. "The strain of that match with Inter also meant we went too deep late on today and wasted more energy."

Meanwhile, Lewandowski said the Higuaín rumor is nothing more than an ill-timed controversy, considering his potent production at the Allianz Arena. Four Four Two noted that the 27-year old forward scored his 16th and 17th goal of the Bundesliga season during Bayern's 2-1 victory over Hamburger SV on Saturday.

Not to be outdone and staying true to Sarri's declaration, Higuaín tallied his 21st goal of the Serie A season in Napoli's 4-2 win against Sampdoria on Sunday. The World Game reported that Lorenzo Insigne, Marek Hamsik and Dries Mertens also found the back of the net during the match.

Higuaín opened the scoring in the ninth minute after intercepting a poor backpass from Edgar Barreto. Nine minutes later, Gli Azzurri was on the stat sheet again, courtesy of Insigne's penalty kick in the 18th minute.

Sampdoria's Joaquin Correa managed to sneak a goal before the 45th mark.  Eder made the scoreline 3-2 in the 73rd, but it would be the last goal the Stadio Luigi Ferraris club would tally. Six minutes later, Napoli substitute and Belgian international Dries Mertens sank a left-footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom far right post.